Chapter 108: Allies or Enemies 3 (1/2)
Old master Sun's study at the Sun family mansion Ningzhuo, Northern Wei
At the Sun Mansion, two streets away from the governor's mansion. Deputy Sun stood in front of a small square-shaped low desk at the centre of the room facing his elderly father. Old master Sun was a plump man in his late sixties, he was still hale and hearty at his age. This was thanks to being a military officer in the past.
The Sun family was an old family with deep roots in Ningzhuo, like all traditional families the old master Sun favoured the legitimate sons over those born of concubines. However, with his only legitimate some dead, he could only rely on this legitimate son of his. Since out of all the other Shu sons, Deputy Sun was the only person with a working brain in his head.
Deputy Sun had proven time and time again that he could fulfil his duties as the improvised heir, old master Sun decided to let him take over a few of the family businesses. Deputy Sun had always delivered on all his tasks but for the past weeks, he had hit a boulder in the form of the new governor and hadn't delivered as he used to.
This was the reason, he was called in by his father this early morning. Old master Sun hadn't looked up from the ledger since he walked in and deliberately left him waiting. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife, Deputy Sun was aware that his father put much importance on his finances and would drop him as soon as he felt that his money was threatened.
He began to think of convincing answers that would satisfy his father in his mind as he waited. It didn't matter that his foot began to throb because his main aim was to get out of his father's bad side in one piece. Old master Sun Finally broke the silence minutes later, he shut the ledger and leaned back on the seat.
Old master Sun glanced at his underperforming son and tapped his finger on the table ”er'San, do you know the kind of person I hate the most?”
Deputy Sun bowed his head lower and nodded, ”Yes father, you hate incompetent people the most”.
”Good, at least you are smart enough to know that. Your deceased brother wasn't so observant, although your younger brother was so incompetent. Do you know why I kept him around?”
”Yes father”
”You know that I do not like two words answers since you know the reason. Say It out, that way it will stick”.
Deputy Sun swallowed and balled up his fist, he replied in a low tone, ”Because he is the legitimate son”.
Old master Sun waited expectantly but didn't hear his foolish eldest son say anything else. He glared at the foolish boy, ”Do you think that I supported him solely because of his birth?” When his foolish som didn't give any response, he won't out the words
”short-sighted fool! Just like your low born mother, you cannot see past the obvious. There is a reason a concubine isn't easily promoted to the main wife. That is because they often can not improve themselves and remain stock following the wrong ideals. You and that low born mother of yours schemed so well to get rid of my heir, yet you can not see past the insignificant facts of your birth”.
Deputy Sun looked up eyes wide, he never knew that his father found out about their involvement in the tragedy that got rid of his precious heir. He glanced at his father strangely, but his father's expression never changed. 'If his father knew of his little tricks why did he let him go scot-free. What was his father's end goal?'
Old master Sun chuckled on seeing his son's lost expression, ”surely you did not think that you had me fooled. You two are not as smart as you think er'San, I know the part you played but I ignored your little games because of all the benefits your brother brought me. He was careless, one wrong move and he could cause me to lose everything. As much as I love him, love my social standing better. This brings us back to my previous questions, why do you think I tolerated you, incompetent brother?”
Deputy Sun immediately remembered his father's previous statements, ”because he brought you good benefits”.